Our club added a second trophy to its collection from the youth championships this season. HC Alkaloid has emerged as the new pioneer champion. In today’s Final Four tournament held in Ohrid, our youngest squad triumphed over HC Aerodrom in the semi-final with a score of 26-11. They then went on to outperform CHC Ohrid in the final, prevailing with a 22-19 victory and claiming first place and the title of national champions.

Following the conclusion of the F4-tournament, Gjorgi Nikolovski (goalkeeper), David Kostovski (right back), and Boban Popovski (right wing) earned spots in our team’s ideal lineup. Boban Popovski was also honored as the tournament’s MVP.

This season, HC Alkaloid is set to reaffirm its crucial contribution to the advancement of Macedonian youth handball.

With impressive performances throughout the championships, we have secured a spot i.e. a representative in the final tournament and will contend for the national championship title across all youth categories. Following in the footsteps of HC Multi Essence’s youth team, who are already deemed the new champions, HC Alkaloid’s pioneers are our second team to directly enter the competition for the championship trophy.

After claiming first place in the group stage, our youngest talents, the HC Alkaloid pioneers, will compete in the final F4 tournament in the Macedonian Pioneer League this weekend. In the semi-finals, our team will face HC Aerodrom from Skopje. The match is scheduled for Sunday at 14:15h in SRC Biljanini Izvori in Ohrid. In the other semi-finals, CHC Ohrid and HC Struga will go head-to-head at 12:15h. The winners of the two semi-finals will clash in the final, slated for Sunday at 19:30h, with a third-place match between the losing semi-finalists scheduled for 17:45h prior to the final.

HC VARDAR 1961 – HC ALKALOID 24-21 (12-11)
Venue: SC Jane Sandanski in Skopje. Spectators: 1,000. Referees: Mihajlo Ilievski and Metodija Ilievski. Delegate: Aco Nikolovski.

HC VARDAR 1961: Tomovski, Gogov, Jagurinovski 2, Alarov, Georgievski 2, Karapalevski 1, Yasuhira 8, Rodriguez 3, Lazarevski 1, Gojkovic, Srdanovic 1, Nikolic 2, Petric 3, Djukic 1, Melo, Mishevski.
Seven-meter throws: 5/5. Suspensions: 10 min.

HC ALKALOID: Galevski, Trajkoski, Djonov 1, Petrov, Markoski, Mladenovikj, Serafimov 3, Karasmanakis 1, Stojkovic, M. Mitev 5, Velkovski, Simonoski 2, Bingo 2, D. Mitev 5, Savrevski, Dimovski 2.
Seven-meter throws: 5/6. Suspensions: 14 min.

The city derby kicked off with both teams displaying solid defensive performances, resulting in only a few goals. In the early stages of the first half, our team held a two-goal lead, with the score at 1-3 and 3-5. Vardar, however, stepped up their defensive efforts and managed to close the gap.

The home team capitalized on our offensive errors at one point, taking a 10-8 lead in the latter part of the first half. Nonetheless, we entered the break with a one-goal advantage, as the scoreboard showed 12-11. The opponent’s goalkeeper, Martin Tomovski, particularly stood out making five saves, while Blagojche Trajkoski had two.

Ten minutes into the second half, the score stood at 15-14 in favor of Vardar 1961. Our team faced a setback when Marko Stojkovic received his third suspension and a red card. The one-goal difference persisted (18-17, then 19-18), with Vardar maintaining a constant lead of one to two goals. This was partly due to our team receiving two suspensions as we entered the final ten minutes. A crucial goal by the Japanese player Yasihura, sealed the victory for the rival team with a score of 23-20.

HC E. PELISTER 2 – HC MULTI ESSENCE 30-21 (15-10)
Venue: Boro Churlevski in Bitola. Referees: Rubin Sedloski and Goran Angeleski. Delegate: Ilija Cvetkoski
HC E. PELISTER 2: Shtakovski, Markoski 3, Talevski 4, Mladenov, Pecurica, Trpchevski, Dimitrovski 3, Kalajdjioski, Gichev, Ivanovski 2, Belistojanovski 3, Jugovski 1, Mijuskovic 4, Hadzic 10

Seven-meter throws: 3/3 Suspensions: 2 min.

HC MULTI ESSENCE: Ermanoski, Dimevski 6, Kostovski 2, Ilieski 3, Nasevski, D. Uzunchev 5, Petreski 1, Trajchev, Mirchevski, Trajkovski, Ivanoski 4, Jordanov, Todeski, T. Uzunchev, Stojcevic, Karakalashev Seven-meter throws: 3/3 Suspensions: 8 min.

HC Multi Essence failed to repeat their first-round success in the Playout clash with E. Pelister 2. This evening in Bitola, our young squad had a poor start, with the opponent leading 4-0, an advantage that ultimately proved decisive in determining the winner.

Following the home team’s early 4-0 lead, the game got more balanced, with both sides trading goals. The margin remained consistent, however, fluctuating between three and five goals, with the home team leading 15-10 at halftime.

The second half brought no significant changes that could alter the outcome. The home team maintained a 4-5 goal advantage until the end, eventually extending their lead to a maximum of nine goals.

In the remaining Playout matches, HC Multi Essence will face off against teams from Skopje in away games and Kumanovo at home. Our team has a bye in the upcoming round and will be given an automatic victory over HC Aerodrom.

HC ALKALOID – CHC OHRID 42-31 (22-14).
Venue:  Avtokomanda in Skopje. Spectators: 350. Referees: Sasho Krkachev and Gjoko Kolevski. Delegate: Dragan Nachevski.

HC ALKALOID: Trajkoski, Galevski, Djonov 3, Petrov, Markoski 1, Mladenovikj, Serafimov 6, Karasmanakis, Stojkovic 7, M. Mitev 7, Velkovski 2, Simonoski 3, Bingo 3, D. Mitev 6, Savrevski 1, Dimovski 3.
Seven-meter throws: 3/3. Suspensions: 10 min.

CHC OHRID: Ristevski, Gjorgjeski, Ojleski 3, Matsuoka 7, Jukic 4, Stoilevski 1, Drogrishki, Pelidija 2, Taseski 2, Rudolf, Kukoski, Krstevski, Sesic 1, Orjonikidze 5, Bojanic 2, Cirar 4.
Seven-meter throws: 6/7. Suspensions: 4 min.

The duel between the two teams began on an equal footing. With the scoreboard showing a close 8-7, HC Alkaloid seized control of the game. Lazarov’s squad played flawlessly, and our team’s goalkeepers were in top form – Blagojche Trajkoski blocked six shots, while Ivan Galevski saved a penalty throw, leading to the first substantial lead of 15-9 midway through the first half.

The effective play continued until halftime, although HC Ohrid consistently pursued our advantage. At the break, HC Alkaloid held a 22-14 lead. Marko Stojkovic’s outstanding first-half performance, during which he scored 5 out of 5 attempts, and Martin Serafimov’s several impressive assists leading to goals were particularly noteworthy.

At the start of the second half, Trajkoski continued to defend in top form, making two additional saves, and HC Alkaloid extended their lead to the largest margin of the game at 23-14. By the 43rd minute, our team had established a ten-goal advantage (29-19), rendering the remainder of the match at the Avtokomanda arena a mere formality.

The Handball Federation of Macedonia (HFM) conducted the draw for the final F4-tournament of the Macedonian Cup, where our HC Alkaloid has secured a spot.

The draw for the final event that will determine the Cup winner pitted HC Alkaloid against HC Vardar 1961 in the semi-finals.

The other semi-final match features HC Eurofarm Pelister and CHC Tikvesh. The victors of both encounters will advance to the final.

The Macedonian Cup’s final F4-tournament will take place from May 16 to 19 at SC Boris Trajkovski in Skopje.

HC Alkaloid is scheduled to face HC Vardar 1961 in the semi-final match on May 16 at 19:30h.